Actually I cringe when I look back on some of the dangerous things I did, so safety wasn't really one of my top priorities, I don't think (although, fortunately, nothing too horrible has ever happened to me traveling).
I grew up in London, so I suppose taking certain precautions is second-nature in some ways? Provinces of poor countries actually feel much safer to me that big first-world cities do.
Money-wise, I was lucky enough to have no debts coming out of university, and to actually have some money (not a massive amount, probably 3/4k dollars) saved up from a student job at a call center. I set up a bank account with the lowest international transaction fees available, and set-up £400 (maybe 500 dollars?) to wire into this every month (so I wouldn't have to track my spending too much, or worry too much about bank-card theft/ATM kidnapping etc.). I only carried this card (debit! only carry debit cards!) with me.
I always carried a 100 dollar bill and a 50 euro note, as well, for immediate emergencies.
Where are you planning to go? Have you bought crazy numbers of maps yet?
Clever setup! I'd have to remember that. Ever since the bus tour in Europe in 2011 I've been willing to visit the region in general and Germany and France in particular. I've seen some wonderful cities as well as beautiful nature while on the road, and even though I quite enjoyed the glimpse, I know I want more than that. If I have enough, I will use my time and money to travel the US and Canada - again, both the cities and the nature, and everything in between. Going by foot seems more natural, more relaxing and comfortable, though I won't decline bus or hitchhike travelling if need be or the wish arises. I'm going to university this year, so travelling will not happen soon. I will use my time to both study and to make my own money while my parents support me. Closer to the free summer I will have to decide. What do you mean by saying that growing up in London made you take certain precautions? I'm not familiar with the reality of living in the UK and in London in particular yet am curious about it.
London is a big, sprawling metropolis, with extreme wealth and extreme poverty crowded together, and all the opportunities for crime that goes along with that. I grew up in Hackney, which is one of those now-gentrified-but-f*ing-scary-in-the-90s kinds of an area (parts of Brooklyn would be a good comparison, maybe?), so I got good at doing that inner-city hood-up keep-out-of-everybody's-way thing... The whole of London is not like that by any means - the western parts of the city are generally really safe, as are the tourist spots.
I'm in France now. Come! It's glorious :)
Oddly enough, you've picked another part of another city that I'm not aware of: I've never been to the US. :) I see what you mean. I recall stories of what Russia used to be back in the 90s, after the Union collapsed (people being threatened with a gun right in the street after dark) - sounds rather similar to what your hometown had. It would be great to visit France now! Yet, there are things I'd rather accomplish beforehand, like publish my damn stories already or finally step into the university - all the things that will lead to me being able to support myself while on the journey, in one way or another.
D'oh! I assumed that, because you were on the internet, you were obviously American (and male, and in your early 20s. I make this assumption despite being none of these things myself...)! Where in the world are you?